Bag for carrying a sports ball and other items

ABSTRACT

A carrying bag includes a first outer surface, a first compartment, and a ball compartment. The ball compartment is separate from the first compartment and is configured to receive and hold a sports ball. The ball compartment is adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to bags to be carried by humans.

Carrying bags are bags that are used by humans to carry along different objects, such as clothing, books or other personal items. Examples of carrying bags include handbags, shoulder bags, and backpacks that are designed to be carried in the humans' hands, on their shoulders or on their backs. Some carrying bags, such as some luggage, also have wheels allowing their users to pull or push such bags easily from one place to another.

A carrying bag typically includes one or more compartments that are designed to accommodate objects that the bag's intended users are most likely to carry. For example, a backpack that is designed for school children has a compartment large enough to hold books, and one or more smaller compartments to carry smaller objects. Or a bag that is designed to carry a bulky basketball has a compartment that is large enough to receive and safely hold that ball.

Some ball carrying bags have an exterior design to indicate a type of the carried ball. For example, a backpack has been designed to carry a basketball in a ball compartment whose outer surface resembles to a basketball hoop. Other ball carrying bags have ball compartments whose outer surface has a fully spherical shape and a pattern resembling to the ball they are designed to hold.

In addition to bags designed to carry balls, some general purpose sports bags also have ornamental features that resemble to sports balls.

SUMMARY

To carry a sports ball in the same bag but separately from other items, a bag has a first compartment for the other items, and a separate ball compartment that is adopted to the shape of the sports ball such that, while holding the sports ball, the ball compartment defines a half-ball-like external shape that indicates the type of the sports ball. Thus, the bag can safely hold the sports ball and also provide desirable ornamental features.

In general, in one aspect, the present invention provides a carrying bag that includes a first outer surface, a first compartment, and a ball compartment. The ball compartment is separate from the first compartment and is configured to receive and hold a sports ball. The ball compartment is adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.

Particular implementations can include one or more of the following features. The first compartment can be a main compartment having a linear extent that is larger than a diameter of the ball compartment. The first compartment and the ball compartment can be separately accessible. The first compartment can define a second portion of the first outer surface of the carrying bag. The ball compartment can be adopted to define the first portion of the first outer surface by exposing a portion of the sports ball. The ball compartment can include a cover part configured to cover the sports ball. The cover part can be configured to partially cover the sports ball. The cover part can include a flexible net, or can have an external pattern that is characteristic to the sports ball. The ball compartment can include a securing strap to hold the sports ball. The carrying bag can also comprise a first carrier that includes the first compartment, and a ball carrier that is attached to the first carrier and includes the ball compartment. The ball carrier can be detachable from the first carrier. The ball carrier can include one or more auxiliary straps for carrying the detached ball carrier. The carrying bag can also include a zipper to attach the ball carrier to the first carrier. The detached ball carrier can be configured to attach to a second carrier. The ball compartment can be configured to receive a sports ball having a diameter larger than about 6 inches. The ball compartment can be configured to receive a spherical sports ball, such as a soccer ball, a volleyball, or a basketball. The ball compartment can be configured to receive an oval sports ball. The carrying bag can also include a second outer surface defined by the first compartment opposite to the first outer surface of the carrying bag, and one or more main straps attached to the carrying bag at the second outer surface for carrying the bag. The first outer surface can have a triangular or rectangular shape. The first compartment can have a reinforced bottom portion. The reinforced bottom portion can include one or more wheels on which the carrying bag can roll. The carrying bag can include one or more additional compartments. One of the additional compartments can be adopted to receive and hold a water bottle or a sports shoe.

In general, in another aspect, the present invention provides a carrying bag that includes a first outer surface, a second outer surface opposite to the first outer surface, a main carrier and a ball carrier. The main carrier has a main compartment that defines the second outer surface. One or more straps are attached to the main carrier at the second outer surface for carrying the bag. The ball carrier is detachably attached to the main carrier and is configured to carry a sports ball. The ball carrier includes a ball compartment for receiving and holding the sports ball. The ball compartment includes a flexible cover part that is adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.

Particular embodiments can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. A bag can carry a bulky sports ball and, at the same time, other bulky items, such as books. Thus, there is no need for a separate bag for the ball. The single bag solution can greatly improve the safety of carrying the ball, especially for children who would easily drop a separately carried ball and might be tempted to play with the separate ball at inappropriate or dangerous places such as near car traffic (even if the ball is in its own bag). The sports ball can be carried and separately accessed in a ball compartment without interfering with other items in other compartments of the same bag. For example, clothes or school books can be carried in one compartment and a sports ball in the other. Thus, the clothes and books can be protected from dirt on the ball. The ball compartment can be part of a ball carrier that is detachable from a main carrier, so the main carrier of the same bag can be used without the ball carrier if the sports ball is not required. Or the detached ball carrier can be used alone if no books are carried along. The same ball carrier can also be attached to the main carriers of different bags, so colors or shapes of the bag can be varied by combining different main and ball carriers. Because the bag's ball compartment, while holding the ball, defines a half-ball-like external shape, this external shape indicates the type of the carried ball, and thus, the structure itself provides a desirable ornamental feature. The half-ball-like external shape also allows a close fit to the carried ball, because the ball compartment defines an internal volume that is adopted to the shape and size of the sports ball. This feature greatly simplifies the ball compartment's structure compared to compartments whose external shape is a basketball hoop shape or any other non-ball-like shape. In the basketball hoop shaped compartment, for example, the ball's weight is supported only at a small circular contact area between the ball and the compartment's wall. To more evenly distribute support for the ball, the ball compartment needs additional structural elements (such as “stuffing”). The ball shaped compartment, however, can safely hold the ball with an evenly distributed support for the ball's weight without any additional structural elements. The ball compartment can include an elastic strap or net to safely hold sports balls of different sizes. The elastic net can also facilitate placing the ball into and removing the ball from the ball compartment. The ball compartment can be covered by reflective material to define a desirable ornamental feature such as a reflective soccer ball pattern. The reflective material also increases the bag's visibility, and thus, the safety of the user carrying the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-4 are schematic drawings illustrating carrying bags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a carrying bag 100 that includes a main carrier 110, a ball carrier 120 having a ball compartment 125, and shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145. The main carrier 110 is configured to carry clothes, books or other personal items, and the ball carrier 120 is configured to carry a sports ball separate from the items in the main container 110. The ball compartment 125 is configured to hold the sports ball such that the bag's outer surface has a half-ball-like portion. The shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145 are configured to carry the bag 100 on a shoulder or in a hand of a human user. The carrying bag 100 can be used to carry a bulky spherical sports ball, such as a soccer ball, basketball or a volleyball.

In the particular implementation, the ball carrier 120 can be detached from the main carrier 110. Thus, the carrying bag 100 includes an attaching zipper 130 that attaches the ball carrier 120 to the main carrier 110, and also allows to detach the ball carrier 120 from the main carrier 110, if required. In alternative implementations, the main and ball carriers 110 and 120 can be non-detachable and form a single structure.

FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate perspective views of the carrying bag 100 as the ball carrier 120 is partially and fully detached from the main carrier 110. In both FIGS. 1B and 1C, the ball compartment 125 of the ball carrier 120 holds a soccer ball 10. The ball compartment 125, however, can also hold another spherical ball, such as a volleyball or a basketball.

The main carrier 110 has a main compartment defined by a bottom wall 111, a side wall 113, a front wall 114, and another side wall and a back wall (not shown) that are opposite to the side wall 113 and the front wall 114, respectively. The main compartment is accessible through an opening defined by a zipper 117 along the edge between the side wall 113 and the back wall. The front wall 114 and the back wall have similar substantially triangular shapes. The main carrier 110 can be made from fabric, leather or pliable plastic materials and can include optional reinforcements along the edges, in the bottom wall 111 or the back wall, for example, at the points where the shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145 are attached. The main compartment can receive and hold sports gear, any other clothing, books or other personal items. Optionally, the main compartment can include one or more inner pockets for small items. Or the front wall 114 can include pockets that are revealed when the ball carrier 120 is detached from the main carrier 110.

In alternative implementations, the main carrier 110 can include one or more additional compartments. For example, an additional compartment can be configured to receive and hold a water bottle, as discussed below with reference to FIG. 3. Other compartments can be configured to receive and hold sport shoes, such as soccer shoes, as discussed below with reference to FIG. 4. If the ball compartment 125 is configured to hold a non-soccer ball, the shoe compartment can be configured to receive and hold another shoe that is used to play with that particular ball.

In other alternative implementations, the main carrier 110, or portions of it, can have different shapes. For example, the front wall 114 and the back wall can have similar rectangular, oval, or circular shapes. Or the front wall 114 can be attached directly to the back wall, without the intervening side walls. The main compartment can also have different or additional openings. For example, the main compartment can have an opening that can be closed by a flap. The openings can be closed by any attaching means, such as different zippers, elastic or leather straps or Velcro®. The main carrier 110, or a part of it, can be made of form-retaining flexible or rigid materials. The bottom wall 111 can have rubber reinforcements, and include wheels on which the carrying bag 100 can be pulled or pushed.

The ball carrier 120 includes the ball compartment 125 and a base portion 122 that is configured to be attached to the main carrier 110. The ball carrier 120 can be made from fabric, leather or pliable plastic materials and can include optional reinforcements along the edges, for example, between the base portion 122 and the ball compartment 125.

The base portion 122 has a shape and a size that are similar to those of the front wall 114 of the main carrier 110. The base portion 122 has an attached auxiliary strap 126 (FIG. 1B) that can be used to carry the ball carrier 120 when it is detached from the main carrier 110. When the main and ball carriers 110 and 120 are properly attached, the auxiliary strap 126 can be hidden between the front wall 114 and the base portion 122. Optionally, the base portion 122 or the auxiliary strap 126 can include pockets for smaller items.

The ball compartment 125 includes a ball receiving part 127, a cover part 128 and a securing strap 129 that are configured to receive and hold a spherical sports ball, such as the soccer ball 10. The ball receiving part 127 defines a half-spherical concave surface, a hollow, having a size of about a half of the soccer ball 10. The cover part 128 includes a flexible net that partially covers the soccer ball 10. Due to its flexibility, the cover part 128 adopts to the shape and size of the soccer ball 10. Thus, the ball compartment 125 can receive and hold balls of different sizes, such as soccer balls for juniors or adults. The flexibility of the cover part 128 also facilitates putting the ball 10 into the ball compartment 125. After the soccer ball 10 is put in the ball receiving part 127 and is partially covered by the cover part 128, the securing strap 129 can be used to secure the soccer ball 10 in a safe, tight position. To provide a tight holding, the securing strap 129 has an adjustable length.

The ball receiving and cover parts 127 and 128 together are configured to define an internal volume that fits to the shape and size of the soccer ball 10. Thus, the soccer ball's weight is evenly supported by a relatively large inner surface of the receiving and cover parts 127 and 128. Accordingly, the soccer ball 10 puts smaller mechanical tension on the supporting portions and causes less tearing of the materials of the ball compartment 125.

The ball carrier 120 defines an outer surface 150 of the carrying bag 100 opposite to the bag's outer surface defined by the back wall of the main carrier 110. In particular, the base portion 122 of the ball carrier 120 defines a substantially flat portion of the outer surface 150, and the ball compartment 125 is configured to define a substantially convex portion of the outer surface 150 while the ball 10 is held in the compartment 125. The convex surface portion has a substantially half-ball-like shape that is defined, in one part, by the surface of the cover part 128 and, in another part, by a surface portion of the soccer ball 10. Thus, the ball compartment 125 exposes the pattern of the ball 10 directly where the ball is not covered, and also partly through the flexible net of the cover part 128. The half-ball-like shape and the exposed pattern provide desirable ornamental features and help to identify the type of the ball held in the compartment 125.

In alternative implementations, the ball carrier 120 can be configured to carry a non-spherical sports ball, such as an oval football (or a rugby ball). Accordingly, the ball compartment 125 can define a half oval football shape for the convex portion of the outer surface 150 of the bag 100. Furthermore, the ball compartment's cover part 128 can be non-flexible, or can fully cover the ball in the compartment 125. The cover part 128 can have an external pattern that corresponds to that of the ball for which the compartment 125 is designed. The external pattern can also include highly reflective portions. Instead of the adjustable securing strap 129, the ball 10 can be secured in the compartment 125 using a leather strap, a flexible strap, a zipper or a Velcro©. The securing strap 129 can also be omitted or replaced by a flap.

In other alternative implementations, the ball carrier's base portion 122 can be smaller than the size of the front wall 114 of the main carrier 110. Or the base portion 122 can have a shape that is different from that of the front wall 114. For example, the base portion 122 can have a shape, such as a circular or oval shape, that corresponds to the shape of the carried sports ball. If the base portion is smaller or has a different shape, the front wall 114 can define a portion of the outer surface 150 of the carrying bag 100. One or more portions of the ball carrier 120 can also be made from form-retaining flexible or rigid materials.

The attaching zipper 130 provides a detachable coupling between the main and ball carriers 110 and 120 along the perimeters of the ball carrier's base portion 122 and the main carrier's front wall 114 (FIG. 1B). The attaching zipper 130 can be configured to attach the same ball carrier 120 to another main carrier. As discussed below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, the main and ball carriers can also be attached around the perimeter of the ball compartment or elsewhere. Instead of a zipper, the main and ball carriers can be attached by other attaching means. Or the ball carrier 120 and the main carrier 110 can form a single non-detachable structure.

The shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145 are attached to the main carrier 110 to carry the bag 100 on a shoulder or in a hand of a human user. The hand strap 145 is non-adjustable, and can also be used as a hanger to hang up the bag 100. The shoulder strap 140 is adjustable to have different lengths as required by the human user. Optionally, the shoulder strap can include pads to more evenly distribute the bag's weight, or small pockets to hold small items. In alternative implementations, the main carrier 110 can have a rectangular shape and include two shoulder straps 140, similar to a conventional backpack. Or the bag 100 can include only the hand strap 145, without the shoulder strap 140.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate perspective views of a carrying bag 200 for carrying a soccer ball 20. Alternatively, the bag 200 can be used to carry a volleyball, a basketball or any other spherical ball of similar size.

The carrying bag 200 includes a main carrier 210, a ball carrier 220, an attaching zipper 230, and shoulder and hand straps 240 and 245. The ball carrier 220 includes a ball compartment 225 configured to hold the soccer ball 20. In the particular implementation, the ball carrier 220 can be detached from the main carrier 210 by the zipper 230 along the perimeter of the ball compartment 225. The main carrier 210 has a main compartment whose opening is defined by a zipper 217. The ball compartment 225 includes cover parts 228 and 229 defining an opening along a zipper 221 to receive the soccer ball 20. The cover parts 228 and 229 include flexible nets that are adopted to fit to the soccer ball 20 and partially expose the surface pattern on the ball 20. Thus, one can easily identify the type of the ball that is held in the ball compartment 225.

The carrying bag 200 has an outer surface 250 that is defined by the main carrier 210 and the ball compartment 225. The outer surface 250 has a substantially triangular shape, and includes a first surface portion defined by the main carrier 210 and a second surface portion defined by the ball compartment 225. The second surface portion has a convex, half-ball-like shape while the ball 20 is held in the ball compartment 225.

In alternative implementations, the carrying bag 200 can be implemented with variations similar to those described above with reference to the carrying bag 100 (FIGS. 1A-1C). For example, the main and ball carriers 210 and 220 can form a single non-detachable structure, or can be detachably attached at locations other than the perimeter of the ball compartment 225. The ball compartment 225 can be fully covered by the cover parts 228 and 229 that can have external patterns resembling to those of the carried ball. The external patterns can also include reflective portions to increase the bag's visibility, and thus, the safety of the bag's user. The bag 200 can also have different shapes, or include additional straps, reinforcements or compartments, for example, for water bottles or sports shoes.

FIG. 3 illustrates a carrying bag 300 including a main carrier 310 and a ball carrier 320. The main carrier 310 includes additional compartments 350 and 360 configured to receive and hold a water bottle 30. In alternative implementations, the additional compartments 350 and 360 can be detachably attached to the main carrier 110 using a zipper, Velcro or any other attaching means.

FIG. 4 illustrates a carrying bag 400 including a main carrier 410 and a ball carrier 420 that is configured to receive and hold a soccer ball. The main carrier 410 includes additional compartments 450 and 460 configured to receive and hold soccer shoes 40 and 45. In alternative implementations, the additional compartments 450 and 460 can be detachably attached to the main carrier 410 using a zipper or Velcro. If the ball carrier 420 is configured to hold a non-soccer ball, the shoe compartments 450 and 460 can be configured to receive and hold another type of shoe that is used to play with that particular ball.

The invention has been described with reference to particular implementations. Other implementations that are within the scope of the following claims can include many variations. For example, different implementations can use elements with different shapes or materials, or the carrying bag can include reinforcing elements or additional detachable or non-detachable compartments. 

1. A carrying bag, comprising: a first outer surface; a first compartment; and a ball compartment that is separate from the first compartment and is configured to receive and hold a sports ball, the ball compartment adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.
 2. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment is a main compartment having a linear extent that is larger than a diameter of the ball compartment.
 3. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the ball compartment are separately accessible.
 4. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment defines a second portion of the first outer surface of the carrying bag.
 5. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is adopted to define the first portion of the first outer surface by exposing a portion of the sports ball.
 6. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment includes a cover part configured to cover the sports ball.
 7. The carrying bag of claim 6, wherein the cover part is configured to partially cover the sports ball.
 8. The carrying bag of claim 7, wherein the cover part includes a flexible net.
 9. The carrying bag of claim 6, wherein the cover part has an external pattern that is characteristic to the sports ball.
 10. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment includes a securing strap to hold the sports ball.
 11. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising: a first main carrier that includes the first compartment; and a ball carrier that is attached to the first carrier and includes the ball compartment.
 12. The carrying bag of claim 11, wherein the ball carrier is detachable from the first main carrier.
 13. The carrying bag of claim 12, wherein the ball carrier includes one or more auxiliary straps for carrying the detached ball carrier.
 14. The carrying bag of claim 12, further comprising: a zipper to attach the ball carrier to the first main carrier.
 15. The carrying bag of claim 12, wherein the detached ball carrier is configured to attach to a second main carrier.
 16. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is configured to receive a sports ball having a diameter larger than about 6 inches.
 17. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is configured to receive a spherical sports ball.
 18. The carrying bag of claim 17, wherein the spherical sports ball is a soccer ball, a volleyball, or a basketball.
 19. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is configured to receive an oval sports ball.
 20. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising: a second outer surface defined by the first compartment opposite to the first outer surface of the carrying bag; and one or more main straps attached to the carrying bag at the second outer surface for carrying the bag.
 21. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first outer surface has a triangular shape.
 22. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first outer surface has a rectangular shape.
 23. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment has a reinforced bottom portion.
 24. The carrying bag of claim 23, wherein the reinforced bottom portion includes one or more wheels.
 25. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional compartments.
 26. The carrying bag of claim 25, wherein one of the additional compartments is adopted to receive and hold a water bottle.
 27. The carrying bag of claim 25, wherein one of the additional compartments is adopted to receive and hold a sports shoe.
 28. A carrying bag, comprising: a first outer surface; a second outer surface opposite to the first outer surface; a first carrier means defining the second outer surface; and a ball carrier means for carrying a sports ball, the ball carrier means being attached to the first carrier means and including a ball compartment means for receiving and holding the sports ball, the ball compartment means adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.
 29. The carrying bag of claim 28, further comprising: an attaching means for attaching the first carrier means to the ball carrier means such that the ball carrier means is detachable from the first carrier means.
 30. The carrying bag of claim 28, wherein the first carrier means includes a main compartment having a linear extent that is larger than a diameter of the ball compartment means.
 31. The carrying bag of claim 28, wherein the ball compartment means is configured to receive a spherical sports ball.
 32. The carrying bag of claim 28, wherein the ball compartment means is configured to receive an oval football.
 33. A carrying bag, comprising: a first outer surface; a second outer surface opposite to the first outer surface; a main carrier having a main compartment defining the second outer surface; one or more straps attached to the main carrier at the second outer surface for carrying the bag; and a ball carrier detachably attached to the main carrier and configured to carry a sports ball, the ball carrier including a ball compartment for receiving and holding the sports ball, the ball compartment including a flexible cover part adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.
 34. The carrying bag of claim 33, wherein the sports ball is a soccer ball, a volleyball, or a football. 